Hope in Gotham? Brian Daboll finds his man at quarterback
Sunday in the NFL is a reminder that the relationship between Head Coach and QB1 matters most. Be it in New York, Chicago, everywhere. Our Week 4 recap is live at Go Long.
With his right hand, Brian Daboll pulls in Jaxson Dart for a hug roughly 3.5 seconds after the New York Giants’ secured their first win of the 2025 NFL season.
With his left hand, he grabs the rookie by the neck and — for a split-second — it appears the euphoric head coach just may smooch his rookie quarterback directly on the cheek. And for good reason. It’s been ages since the head coach felt this type of joy on a football field. After one gentle chest bump, Daboll briefly redirects to the middle of the field to take his hat off and shake Jim Harbaugh’s hand… but he’s not done. He finds Dart again, hooks him around the neck with his bicep, says a few words into his left ear and smacks him on the chest.
This is what it looks like when a head coach finally gets his quarterback.
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Who knows if Dart will sling enough darts to win games, save jobs, bloom into everything this team has been missing. On Sunday, he threw for 111 yards on 13-of-20 passing, rushed for 54 more, scored a pair of touchdowns and lost his No. 1 playmaker (Malik Nabers) to a torn ACL. But the Giants, 6.5-point underdogs, stunned the undefeated Los Angeles Chargers and such postgame ecstasy punctuated what matters most in the NFL. It’s not always noticeable through the drivel of pleasantries coaches and quarterbacks are obligated to recite at a podium.
The personalities of a head coach and a starting quarterback must align for a team to win long term. Especially when that head coach is the voice inside that quarterback’s helmet those 60+ play calls each game. Arranged marriages rarely work out.
Honestly, it’s no different than any relationship. The more you find yourself rationalizing, the more you’re simply delaying a difficult breakup.
This Giants regime spent three seasons talking itself into Daniel Jones and paid the price. You can’t completely blame GM Joe Schoen and Daboll. We’ve taken the bait. Throughout his entire seven-year career, Jones has specialized in doing juuuust enough to warrant a deeper look. In 2022, he guided an injury-ravaged Giants offense to the playoffs. Now, in 2025, “Indiana Jones” has Colts Nation buzzing.
Yet, it never worked out in New York because Daboll and Jones are polar opposites
“Oh boy,” says one coach on that Giants staff. “If you could have been a fly on the wall. They couldn’t be any more opposite because Daniel Jones couldn’t be any more opposite than Josh Allen.
“Robot. Over-analytical. Sensitive. Thin-skinned. Great kid, puts in the work, but he’s just not a dude. Josh is a dude.”
Perhaps Jaxson Dart proves to be a dude, too.
This isn’t to say one personality is correct and one is incorrect. Jones is (very) serious, (very) stoic, (very) by the book in style and substance and players have used those exact words to describe Colts head coach Shane Steichen. Maybe that’s why this duo’s enjoying success in Indy.
In New York, ownership will undoubtedly tie the week-to-week progress of Dart to the further employment of Daboll and Schoen.
Without Nabers, it’ll be awfully difficult to manufacture explosive plays.
But the reason Daboll still appears downright electrified is that he’s been here before. He knows exactly what he’s looking for out of his quarterback.
In Year 1, with Allen, the field was scattered with D- to C-level talent. The wild stallion out of Wyoming didn’t even have a 700-yard receiver in completing 52 percent of his passes to the likes of Robert Foster, Zay Jones, Kelvin Benjamin, Jason Croom and Andre Holmes. But through this wonky 6-10 season, he supplied occasional snapshots of everything to come. He hurdled Anthony Barr in a stunning upset of the Minnesota Vikings. He slashed through seven Titans defenders en route to the end zone. He eluded Cameron Wake on third and 15, baited a batch of Dolphin defenders to chase him toward the sideline and lobbed a TD over their heads to Chris Ivory. And one of his best throws to date remains a 75-yard touchdown to Foster against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The same Jaguars whose star cornerback, Jalen Ramsey, called Allen “trash” before the season. Buffalo was 3-7. Jacksonville was 3-7. But after this rocket to a receiver who’d go on to catch all of five passes after the ’18 season? Thrown a millisecond before getting crunched in the pocket? Even the most cynical of locals had to start believing.
Dart doesn’t need to make the playoffs or even post gaudy numbers this season.
He simply needs moments like these. Moments that galvanize in a way Jones never could.
Sunday’s first impression included a few. Dart capped Drive No. 1 with a 15-yard TD run up the gut and showed more emotion in that brief celebration than Jones did his entire Giants career. He stepped into the pocket for a third-and-13 strike to Daniel Bellinger that led to a field goal. By far, his best play of the day was a 10-yard completion to Theo Johnson on third and 5 with 2:38 remaining. On this specific call, the tight end is supposed to keep running. That’s how Daboll says he’s run the play for 10 years. On film, however, Dart realized the middle of the field would be open. So he told Johnson beforehand that — if they get that particular look — to sit down. Johnson did, and the hookup sealed a win.
Teammates will need to do their part to help with Nabers out. Even this W had its blemishes. On a late fourth and 5, Dart did a marvelous job of buying time and Wan’Dale Robinson dropped a touchdown.
In the face of it all, however, Daboll saw a rookie who did not flinch.
“For a young player to come out here in his first game against a 3-0 team, with Herbert as quarterback and the defense the way they were playing, I think it says a lot about our guys and I think it says a lot about 6,” Daboll said. “I know 6 is going to be sore. He gutted it out. He’s a tough son of a, you know what. He’s tough. But I knew that.”
It was Daboll’s call to bench Russell Wilson for Dart. He was also a driving force behind the recruitment and selection of this rookie out of Ole Miss.
I keep thinking back to the coach’s last training camp with Jones. Last summer, the Giants sincerely believed they had surrounded the veteran quarterback with ample talent, but something was… off. After big plays in practice, Daboll would demonstrably fist pump and/or slap the QB on the back as if trying to ignite a flame inside when, in truth, the two were fire and ice. Jones barely reacted. In our 1 on 1 with Jones, it sounded like the QB still couldn’t get over the Giants flirtation with Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye and the ’24 draft class.
“It ticks you off a little bit to see,” Jones said then, sheepishly. “It’s not fun and not something that you’re excited about. Like I said, it is what it is at this point and it’s my job to play well regardless.”
When I ask one NFL assistant who’s familiar with both quarterbacks how Allen would’ve handled such an HBO slight, he doesn’t hesitate.
“Josh would’ve went scorched earth like, ‘Oh yeah, watch what I do to everybody,’” the coach says. “That’s not Daniel. They’re not the same. They couldn’t be any more opposite. Daboll and Daniel? Two totally different type of people.”
When Daboll loses his mind on you, he wants you to fire back. Conflict is welcomed.
Allen didn’t go into a hell whenever the OC reamed him out on the bench. He responded.
And, yeah, it’s nice when a quarterback meticulously follows exactly what a play design asks. This offense, with its Patriots roots, is complex. But above all? The head coach wants a fearless SOB who isn’t afraid to call his own number. Through the predraft process, the Giants sensed those “dawg” qualities in Dart and traded back into the first round to get him. Before any offense can get down to mastering the nuanced schematic intricacies of the game to outfox a defense, the two most important people — HC and QB — must establish strong chemistry. Only then, can tough conversations between the two be had. It’s the first (and most important) box to check… and one Daboll could never check with his starter the last three seasons.
Judging by his energy, Daboll believes he finally found a QB on his wavelength.
Now, it’s time to get to work building another Allen.
Next up, the Giants can easily improve to 2-3 at New Orleans before embarking on an Eagles/Broncos/Eagles/49ers gauntlet. Daboll is about to learn a lot more about his chosen one.
Elsewhere, the first date in Chicago was not quite as fruitful in Week 1.
Ben Johnson inherited former No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams. Those who know the head coach best made it clear to us that there’s no guarantees Williams will be Johnson’s guy long term. And to his immense credit, Johnson has not dumbed down his offense to placate. Nor has he coddled Williams behind the scenes. From Day 1, he’s been exceptionally difficult on the former Heisman winner. During the broadcast of Chicago’s 25-24 win over Las Vegas, sideline reporter Aditi Kinkhabwala brought up a telling conversation she had with both individuals during their production meetings:
“I asked Ben Johnson about any hesitation coaching Caleb Williams hard. And he said, ‘The very first day I met him, I told him a few things I love and a few things I didn’t love. He’s just going to have to get used to that’s who I am.’ Then, I asked Williams about it and he said, ‘You know what, in the beginning, when he was making an example of me in front of everybody, I really wondered Geez are you just coming at me?’ Now he said they have a trust and a belief in one another.”
Sharp insight from Aditi, the rare sideline reporter who’s unafraid to ask substantive questions of coaches. (Even if it means a death stare from Johnson.)
Last season, interim coach Thomas Brown essentially relayed the same exact message to Williams. By then, however, it was too late. Is Johnson getting through? Possibly. Chicago heads into the bye week 2-2, thanks in large part to a litany of Raiders errors: four turnovers, a third-and-goal drop late, horrendous clock management on the final drive. Williams threw 15 incompletions, averaged 5.7 yards per pass attempt and threw an interception but made critical plays late to win. That’s progress.
Find ways to win — however ugly — and Johnson may continue to warm up to Williams.
For ages, these are the games Chicago found unique ways to lose. This time, they’re the team that blocked a 54-yarder.
The new head coach can take at least take a deep breath or two into the bye week.
No Huddle
Adonai Mitchell single-handedly cost the Indianapolis Colts a win over the Los Angeles Rams. That’s no exaggeration. First, the second-year wideout dropped the ball before crossing the goal line to celebrate. Then, his holding penalty wiped out a 53-yard Jonathan Taylor touchdown. Both Bob McGinn and myself heard scathing red flags on Mitchell ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft. (One assistant coach told me: “You want to stay away from Mitchell. He’s not into football for the right reasons. Big wild card.”) GM Chris Ballard, on cue, made a point to rip this website for publishing such accounts and he was widely championed in the press. Now? Mitchell, a 52nd overall pick, is basically unplayable. This is why the unvarnished good, bad and ugly from NFL scouts and coaches matter year ‘round.
Matt LaFleur’s clock management in Green Bay’s 40-40 tie at Dallas was difficult to watch. The Packers operated in obvious fear of a Brandon Aubrey field goal late in overtime and paid the price. Be sure to tune into this week’s Ty & Bob Pod for more.
Undefeated Buffalo played pat-a-cake with winless New Orleans at home before Josh Allen essentially declared enough’s enough and took over. Leading 21-19 — after a Saints TD was overturned on replay — the Bills QB blasted ahead for a 27-yard gain, going full And One mixtape in juking a pair of defenders out of their Nikes. The next play, he fired a 28-yard score to tight end Dalton Kincaid. Hey, 4-0 is 4-0, but the Bills obviously have issues on defense that have to be sorted out by January. Offensively, this 31-19 win was a healthy reminder that this team still needs to unleash its quarterback. Pounding away with James Cook supplies needed balance but the reigning MVP is the ultimate cheat code.
Tales of Patrick Mahomes’ demise were always overblown, but the sirens should be loud in Baltimore. This is Baltimore’s first 1-3 start since 2015. Now, injuries are piling up on defense — Roquan Smith, Marlon Humphrey and Nate Wiggins all exited their team’s 37-20 loss at Kansas City. Star defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike is out for the season with a neck injury, a crushing blow. The Burrow-less state of the Bengals, the reality that Pittsburgh’s gotten to 3-1 by the skin of its teeth and Cleveland’s general malaise on offense should keep the Ravens afloat in the AFC North. But this team is a long, long way from rounding into Super Bowl form.
One quarterback we’ve been bullish on around here, Michael Penix Jr., bounced back tenfold in a 34-27 win over the Commanders. The southpaw went 20 of 26 for 313 yards and a pair of TDs. This Atlanta offensive line has been really good for a while now. Give Penix a pocket and he’s got the gun to consistently deliver throws like this 43-yard strike to Drake London. All of this following a grisly performance at Carolina that had many outsiders wondering if the Falcons should hand the ball back to Kirk Cousins. Sunday could prove to be the springboard Penix needed. “It’s not always going to be perfect,” Penix said afterward. “I think I showed myself I deserve to be here and I belong.” It also helped that OC Zak Robinson moved from the box to the sideline to call plays. Atlanta scored on six of its first nine possessions with Penix saying it helped to hear Robinson’s thoughts directly to know how they were calling present plays to set up future plays. Optimism’s renewed in Atlanta into the bye week. Raheem Morris, Robinson and the coaches now have two weeks to prepare for a MNF tilt against those Bills at home.
The vibes are not so good 250 miles north. The Brian Callahan Era may be nearing its sloppy end after a gruesome 26-0 loss to Houston. As a rule of thumb, it’s never good when your rookie quarterback states publicly, “We ass.” Back to training camp, Cam Ward described their offense as “mid.” The No. 1 pick isn’t lying. There’s nothing these Titans do particularly well. No quarterback in the NFL has been pressured more than Ward, and this comes after the Titans shelled out a four-year, $82 million contract to left tackle Dan Moore. Three games in, Callahan relinquished playcalling duties. After Sunday’s humiliation, Callahan sounded like a man who wanted to legitimately fight a reporter. Highly recommend this column from my pal Conor Orr at SI. It’s not even October and Callahan is coaching for his job.
Thanks for a nice review. Two thoughts:
1. It looked to me like KC was applying the blueprint laid out by the Lions against Lamar. It worked again. The teams with the talent to do that will be giving him a hard time all year.
2. You make Daniel Jones sound a lot like Eli. Just sayin'
Tyler, Tyler, Tyler, what am I going to do with you? One game, and you intimate the Dart kid may become as Dude-like as Josh Allen and that Brian Daboll has finally found his quarterback? And just in time to save his and the GM’s jobs! One game, and a game where the young QB needed his legs more than his arm? Well, Daboll’s 19th career regular season win jacks his overall winning percentage to .355. Those are HOF numbers in the GoLongTDs coaching Hall of Fame. Minnesota’s O-line was down to two starters Sunday morning. No quarterback is safe behind what’s left for a line. Could already be dirge time for the Vikings if they lose to Cleveland, come out of their bye and see Philly warming up on their field in Week 6.